Daina, Diana, Gran Sport or none of the above?
Story by staff, and color photos by Gianni Petta
From the Archives, February 2020
Gianni Petta, known for his wonderful
siata
Etceterini Registries
Story and illustrations by Frederic Levaux
“Hello, I’m Frederic Levaux, and I am a car enthusiast with a registry addiction.” This is probably how my introduction should go if I ever attend an AA meeting. Like many of you I have bought and restored a few cars, but my problem, when I buy a car, is that I can’t help but trying to learn as much as possible about the car, the model, the brand… and if I do not find what I am looking I tend to build it myself. [Read more…] about Etceterini Registries
Siata’s Daina 1400
Siata Balbo Coupe CS071 Part 2
Story and photos by Sean Smith
From our Archives, 2018
On June 4th, 2017, Walter and the SIATA won the “Vintage Rallies” award at the 2017 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. But the car still was not running right—so off it went to Automotive Restorations in Stratford Connecticut.
They were chasing what they thought were some electrical gremlins. They got the SIATA running better, and technician Chip Webb took the car out for a road test.
On June 8th at 1:30 in the afternoon, Chip was waiting for a light at the corner of Stratford and Surf Avenues with his signal on, when a woman in a Toyota Camry came along doing something she shouldn’t have been doing… one hand on the wheel and the other on her ubiquitous cell phone… driving distracted.
BANG!
Siata Balbo Coupe CS071 Part 1
Story by Sean Smith
From our Archives, 2017
In Part 1, Sean Smith relates the fascinating life of a Siata that has been in the same family for almost 60 years, a story that begins back in 1952 with a most unlikely car….Ed.
Dr. Julius Eisenstark had an eye for unique cars. In 1952 when everybody else was buying Fords and Chevys, he bought a Hudson.
Not just any Hudson, but a Teaguemobile.
Siata Daina, Gran Sport and Assorted Others
Daina, Diana, Gran Sport or none of the above?
Story by staff, and color photos by Gianni Petta
Gianni Petta, known for his wonderful Targa Florio dioramas, sent along a series of photos of a variety of Siatas, all taken in Italy, at the Targa Florio or the Mille Miglia vintage avents in the past few years. This prompted us to recall a very thorough road test of the Siata Gran Sport conducted by a rare early sports car magazine, which we quote from below. And why was it called a Gran Sport and Daina at the same time? [Read more…] about Siata Daina, Gran Sport and Assorted Others
Siata 1400 Coupe
We first ran this story in April of 2006. Peter Voorhees was well into restoring this one off 1400 Siata. Then we lost track of both Voorhees and the Siata. Find out what happened-Ed.
By Peter Voorhees
Photos by the author and as noted
This is the abbreviated story of a Siata that I bought in 1985 at a flea market in Stowe, Vermont. Restoration process has been slow, however. I’ve been telling my friends ‘This is the Year!’ for so many years it’s really become a joke. But the journey has been so much fun I don’t mind at all. Every year I learn a little more and finish a little more, but there are still things to learn and do.
Eisenstark’s Siata Part 3: Making Amelia
Story by Sean Smith
Photos by Smith unless otherwise noted
Read Part 1 All in the family
Read Part 2 The Big Ouch
March 1, 2018—two days before Walt Eisenstark’s SIATA goes on a truck to take its trip down to Amelia Island—work continues.
It’s not like the automotive reality shows where everyone is running in circles throwing parts around and some heavily tattooed owner is screaming “if it’s not done in the next 8 hours it won’t be on the truck and it won’t get to auction and we won’t make a huge profit and you’ll all be fired!” This is Automotive Restorations, Inc. Everything is moving along smoothly with a purpose—no histrionics, just pure, professional calm. Everything gets done, no show-boating. The SIATA goes out for a drive on the last day of February: no seat, but a very nice milk carton in its place. The car has never run better; it now idles beautifully and pulls strongly to 5000 RPM.
Eisenstark Siata Part 2: The Big Ouch
Story and photos by Sean Smith
On June 4th, 2017, Walter and the SIATA won the “Vintage Rallies” award at the 2017 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. But the car still was not running right—so off it went to Automotive Restorations in Stratford Connecticut.
They were chasing what they thought were some electrical gremlins. They got the SIATA running better, and technician Chip Webb took the car out for a road test.
On June 8th at 1:30 in the afternoon, Chip was waiting for a light at the corner of Stratford and Surf Avenues with his signal on, when a woman in a Toyota Camry came along doing something she shouldn’t have been doing… one hand on the wheel and the other on her ubiquitous cell phone… driving distracted.
BANG! [Read more…] about Eisenstark Siata Part 2: The Big Ouch
Stunning Siata by Balbo, CS071
Story by Sean Smith
In Part 1, Sean Smith relates the fascinating life of a Siata that has been in the same family for almost 60 years, a story that begins back in 1952 with a most unlikely car….Ed.
Dr. Julius Eisenstark had an eye for unique cars. In 1952 when everybody else was buying Fords and Chevys, he bought a Hudson.
Not just any Hudson, but a Teaguemobile.
Steve McQueen’s Siata
McQueen’s 208-S. Photo by Tony Singer.
Surprised that Steve McQueen owned a Siata? That is interesting enough, but discovering that the young actor affixed a Ferrari badge to the 208S he bought might be even more surprising, and at the same time perhaps tells us about another side of the man himself. We must give thanks to Matt Stone for this information and presenting it in his book, “McQueen’s Machines”, and current owner Tony Singer, whose words constitute the bulk of the story below. In addition, collector Christophe Pund was kind enough to allow us to publish Michelotti’s original drawing of the Siata 208S, which is also supplied with the two volume Otto Vu set, authored by Tony Adriaensens. (read review). If you’d like to know more about Tony Singer, read about him here. Ed.
Etceterini Guy Cliff Reuter
Jack and Cliff Reuter in Bandini #358 at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours
By Pete Vack and Cliff Reuter
Photos courtesy Cliff Reuter
VeloceToday has been publishing articles weekly since 2001, but Cliff Reuter’s excellent site, Etceterini.com, is almost as old. “I started my first web site cliffreuter.com in 2002 as a way to connect with friends around the world (before Facebook) and then in 2005 launched Etceterini.com”, said Cliff.
In 2006, Cliff and VeloceToday shared a unique experience we found the ex-Clair “Sonny” Reuter Bandini. VeloceToday did the story and Cliff and his father Jack (no relation to Clair Reuter) rescued the car and it is now being restored. A few years later in 2010, Cliff helped organize an Etceterini show at Amelia Island Concours, and with Sportscardigest.com, we ran a series of articles and a contest for the favorite Etceterini entry at Amelia.
Etceterini.com has turned out to be the ‘go to’ site for anyone interested in SCCA racing in the 1950s and 60s. “I started my SCCA results pages in 2006 after we purchased the ex-Sandy MacArthur 1951 Bandini Siluro Motto Crosley Mercury Devin. We knew some of the history of the car but wanted to know more. I searched the Internet for 1950s SCCA results and was VERY disappointed with what I found – almost nothing. I then began going through my Father’s boxes of 1950s-60s race photos, car magazines, racing memorabilia, SCCA race programs and these yielded some very enlightening information!”
While Cliff’s site focuses on Etceterinis, all cars are included, particularly Ferraris. “I’m constantly buying and adding to this collection of American sports car racing history so keep checking back (and refreshing)! Also, PLEASE help me grow these pages by sending YOUR scans of SCCA race results, programs and articles,” said Cliff.
Jack Reuter, left, with his 330 GTO Ferrari and at right, Dick Merritt.
Cliff’s background is as interesting as his site. He is originally from St. Louis Missouri, and his mother is from Liverpool, UK. Father Jack is from St. Louis and was a passionate car enthusiast from early on. Growing up, Cliff says he “played a lot of tennis and shared my dad’s love of European cars.”